Satellite Navigation
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Basics
- A Method Of Navigation using Data from a Navigational Satellite Constellation
- This uses a rather complex process outlined in This Wikipedia Page, which essentially boils down to a process similar to trigionometry using the TOF of signals from satellites in known orbits all of which are syncronysed and use computers and atomic clocks to stay in time. Thus via receiving these signals, a computer can do the math and determine where the receiver unit is in relation to these known orbits. This can give a simple lat/long/elv readout, which was common in early consumer units, or be used for determining current position on a map, and thus calculate routes (as is common in almost all consumer gps products such as smartphones with gps and an app like Google Maps
- Acuraccy Varies Depending on What Constellation is Used (Or if multiple are used and merged), what hardware is used, and if RTK is being used
- 2-2.5 Meters is the most common acuracy used in calculations for most satallites and systems without RTK ,although some newer constellation systems such as the L5 Band of GPS state 30cm
- Where you are using it can also impact whay constellation to use and/or what acurracy you can get
- As more satellites are added, and more countries launch their own constellations, this is becomingg less and less of a problem, but it still is best to use the more local constellation
- This is because many systems are adapted to give a region more orbital passes via shaping the orbit around that area, and/or adding more satellites with orbits to that area
Constellations
Systems
- Typically most modern receivers can receive from any constellation, it is more a matter of selection
- Also most devices available (User:Eric writing this, so i live in the USA the products available to me are marketed to USA use, however i did live in Brussels Belgium in the early 2000's and vaugely remember our early gps being different there but this was in the EARLY days of civillian GPS, others PLEASE feel free post for other locations and their options/product avalibilities) have options for standard GPS (no other constellations added in and/or ground stations) and GNSS (this comes in two versions GNSS-1 and GNSS-2 )